A Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Adhesion on Different Long-Term Provisional Fixed Prostheses Fabricated by CAD/CAM Milling, 3D Printing, and Heat Cure Technique: An In Vivo Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares the bacterial susceptibility to three different provisional restorations manufactured with different laboratory techniques, i.e., heat cure, CAD/CAM, and 3D printing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 45 health patients with age group of 30-60 years undergoing complete veneer crown treatment were selected for the study and divided into three groups with 15 samples in each as Group I: the crowns were made from polymethyl methacrylate polymer fabricated by the conventional heat cure method, Group 2: the crowns were made from polymethyl methacrylate fabricated by subtractive manufacturing CAD/CAM method, and Group 3: the crowns were made from oligomers fabricated by additive manufacturing 3D printing. The samples were examined for bacterial adherence at scanning electron microscope. The colony-forming units (CFUs) were calculated, and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: It has been determined that the digitally fabricated provisional restorations prove to be superior in terms of surface topography than to the conventionally fabricated provisional restorations.

CONCLUSION: The study concludes that 3D-printed provisional restorations are more precise with reduced bacterial susceptibility than milled ones.